The world’s largest FSRU, owned by MOL, has berthed at the new jetty in Hong Kong waters to start serving Hong Kong’s first LNG import facility, CLP Power and HK Electric said on Tuesday.
The 263,000-cbm MOL FSRU Challenger arrived in Hong Kong from Singapore last week.
Following checks and port clearance procedures, the FSRU set sail to the offshore LNG terminal, which consists of the jetty and two subsea pipelines, located east of the Soko Islands.
“Final preparations are being made for the terminal to go into operation in mid-2023 as an initiative by the two power companies to help increase low-carbon power generation and support Hong Kong’s energy transition,” CLP Power and HK Electric said in a statement.
Hong Kong LNG Terminal is a joint venture consisting of HK Electric and Castle Peak Power, in which CLP Power Hong Kong holds 70 percent, while China Southern Power Grid International has 30 percent.
Image: CLP Power and HK Electric
Two power plants
The LNG import terminal project forms part of Hong Kong’s initiative to reduce emissions. The city and special administrative region of China is working to increase the use of natural gas to fuel its power plants.
The FSRU, which will be renamed Bauhinia Spirit, has a nominal capacity of 600 million cubic feet per day with a maximum capacity of 800 million cubic feet per day.
Regasified LNG coming from the FSRU will supply two power plants and these include the Black Point power station located in the New Territories and Lamma power station located at Lamma Island.
CLP Power and HK Electric said last month that they have issued a tender to buy a commissioning cargo for Hong Kong’s first LNG import terminal.
Also, Dutch Vopak said last week that it will not buy a 49.99 percent stake in the FSRU from Japan’s MOL, but it will remain involved in the commissioning of the terminal and will continue to provide support to the operation of the terminal as required.
Previously, MOL and Vopak joined forces for the development of the project’s double berth jetty and maintenance services.